Aborigines to meet on Palm Island response

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Hundreds of Aborigines are expected at a meeting in Townsville
today to discuss the Queensland Government's handling of deaths in
custody, despite a vow by the chief of the state's Crime and
Misconduct Commission that its public inquest into the death of a
Palm Island man would allow "total transparency".

Indigenous leaders in north Queensland have organised the
meeting at a Townsville Catholic church in support of the family of
Cameron Doomadgee, whose death in custody on the island on November
19 sparked riots.

The commission's chairman, Brendan Butler, said yesterday: "In
particular, it's an opportunity for different witness accounts to
be openly explored and for family representatives and
representatives of other parties to cross-examine witnesses. That
public hearing process ... will be a powerful process to determine
what the facts are."

An Aboriginal leader, Errol Wyles, said there was strong
community support for today's meeting, which follows other racial
incidents in north Queensland in recent years, such as the police
investigation involving Mr Wyles's son, Errol jnr, who was killed
when a car reversed over him last year.

Speakers at the meeting were to include the Aboriginal activist
Murrandoo Yanner, who on Tuesday threatened payback against police.
But Mr Wyles said it was not certain if he would attend.

The commission said investigations into Mr Doomadgee's death
would continue.

"So far 33 people have been interviewed in relation to the death
in custody, however our investigators expect to continue to take
witness statements today, tomorrow and Monday on Palm Island," Mr
Butler said yesterday. "We've had very good co-operation from the
people of Palm Island, as the number of interviews that we've
conducted indicates."

That information would be given to the State Coroner, Michael
Barnes, and would be revealed during a public hearing.

Mr Butler said the investigation was delayed after two officers
fled the island's council chambers at the height of last Friday's
riot, during which the island's police station, residential
barracks and courthouse were set on fire.

The riot was triggered after an autopsy report showed that Mr
Doomadgee had died of a punctured liver and four broken ribs.

A spokesman for the Doomadgee family, Brad Foster, said the
indigenous community doubted the commission could provide an
independent investigation of the death.

"There have been 209 indigenous deaths within our justice
system: not one police officer has been charged."